Arts Emergency, a charity founded by comedian Josie Long and activist Neil Griffiths, is looking for young Salford and Greater Manchester people, aged 16-18, to apply for a place on its new mentoring programme.
Since 2017, Arts Emergency mentors have supported pupils at sixth forms and schools in Greater Manchester, helping them with higher education and creative careers in the arts and humanities.
The charity will match young people with an industry professional who shares
their interests, whether that's in theatre, journalism, design, music or another creative field. Over the course of a year, mentors help with everything from portfolios and UCAS, to work placements and auditions.
Arts Emergency aims to counter the prevailing situation where young people from privileged backgrounds are four times more likely to make it into the creative industries than their peers.
It only works with the young people least likely to have the connections or a 'leg up' to work in these areas, and, nationally, the three most common criteria selected by Arts Emergency mentees were those where neither parent went to university (71%), had a household income below £25,000 p/a (56%) or were a person of colour (56%).
"We're so delighted to be providing more spaces than ever on our life-changing mentoring programme" says Rose Condo, Manchester Project Coordinator "As well as a mentor, we offer lots of opportunities like free theatre trips, set visits and paid internships."
High profile members of the Arts Emergency network include actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, fashion historian and BBC presenter Amber Butchart, comedian and actor Jack Dee, author and journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge, writer Neil Gaiman and comedian Nish Kumar.
One of those helped is Millie-Jo McIver, who went to Ashton Sixth Form College and is now studying English at the University of Birmingham..."Arts Emergency has given me the confidence to pursue the career I've always wanted" she says "The mentoring scheme was a truly invaluable opportunity to gain one-to-one advice and guidance from an industry professional.
"My mentor still keeps in touch and happily offers up heaps of help and opportunities" she adds "I even had the chance to work on the set of CBBC's 'So Awkward' in 2017 thanks to Arts Emergency organising work experience for me.
"The best bit of mentoring by far was producing my first commissioned piece of work. The play was for Oldham Coliseum Theatre, and I just remember seeing the finished product in performance and thinking, 'I wrote this! That's my play!' It really sunk in then, not only how lucky I'd been to have had such a wonderful mentor who brought about the opportunity but that writing plays was something I could actually do and - if I dared to think it - I might even be alright at it!"
Arts Emergency is funded by the People's Postcode Trust, supported entirely by
players of People's Postcode Lottery.
Applications for mentoring are now open and will close on 30 September.
To apply fill out the form on the Arts Emergency website – click here.
Successful applicants will begin mentoring in January 2020.
Main photo shows Millie-Jo McIver.
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